Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a famous French painter. A leader of the French Romantic school of art his influence touched many artists and other styles, such as impressionism and symbolism.

Eugene Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People", is displayed in an 'outpost' of the Louvre-Lens museum. That is it was until it was vandalised by a woman wielding a black pen!

Friday the Louvre closed two galleries after a woman used a black marker pen to deface this leading artwork. She reportedly 'scribbled' across a one foot area at the bottom of the painting, "AE911". The Delacroix art work is one of the Louvre's most notable pieces.

Why "AE911" Digital Journal wondered?

There is a link to the 9/11 tragedy in the USA. "AE911Truth" is the name of a website. It is also called "Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth". According to Reuters the backers of this website "are seeking to establish the truth of the September 11, 2001 suicide airliner attacks on New York's Twin Towers".

'Liberty Leading the People' is an iconic painting. Down the years it has become a symbol of the French Republic commemorating the people's revolution. Reuters reports "Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" was painted after the 1830 July Revolution as a symbol of reconciliation following the overthrow of Bourbon King Charles X and the ascent to the throne of his cousin Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orleans".

Why the possible 'truther' chose this painting is not known. Was it because it is so famous? Was it opportunistic graffiti due to the painting's location? Was it symbolic?

First reports from the gallery indicate that the painting will be saved. The damage was only surface deep and has been removed.

The woman was apprehended by a security guard and a museum visitor. The Telegraph reports that local prosecutor, Philippe Peyroux, said "She appears to be a person with mental health problems." He has requested she undergo psychiatric assessment. Police are searching her home.

'Liberty leading the people' is on loan to the Louvre-Lens museum from the Louvre's main collection in Paris.